Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Slim Jim

Slim JimPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.2 mi
distance
10 ft
climb
8,680 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Slim Jim is a short cross-country ski route in Colorado, about 0.15 miles long and rising just 10 feet from its start. It sits at roughly 8,650 feet, with the high point at 8,680 feet, and the nearest town is Elkdale, about 3.6 miles away. The climb is brief but rated hard. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.08 miles, with a 3% grade. The route is a short outing rather than a long one, and the elevation change is minimal, so it works well as a quick addition to a day on the Loppet or Loppet's Trail, both of which lie within a quarter mile. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from the nearby Fraser weather station, at a similar elevation, show January highs around 31°F with lows near -1°F, while June runs about 72°F by day and 33°F at night. The station sits about 120 feet lower than the route, so temperatures on the ski route may run slightly cooler. Loppet's Trail and Loppet are the closest neighbors. The Grand County / Fraser Valley climbing area is about 1.7 miles away, and St. Louis Creek Campground is about 6.2 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Slim Jim

    Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      31° / -1°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 2°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 11°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      51° / 20°

      8 wet

    5. May

      62° / 27°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 33°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 38°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 37°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 29°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 21°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 10°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      31° / -1°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Fraser, CO, 6.9 mi away at 8,560 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors